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at assimilation of persons belonging to national minorities against their will
and shall protect these persons from any action aimed at such assimilation.”
Article 45, Clause 2, of the Constitution of Azerbaijan confirms: “1. Everyone
shall have the right to use his/her native language. 2. No one shall be deprived
to the right to use his/her native language,” while Article 21 emphasizes that
“the Republic of Azerbaijan shall guarantee the free use and development of
other languages spoken by the population.” This statement finds practical
confirmation by the presence of more than twenty schools with Russian as
the only language of tuition, and approximately 300 schools with several
languages of tuition. President Ilkham Aliev said: “Azerbaijan treats ethnic
Russians traditionally well. Not a single Russian-language school has been
closed. On the contrary, we provide conditions for the best possible Russian
language studies.”
There are schools with tuition in Modern Hebrew in Baku and Red Borough,
Kuba District. Jewish history and traditions are on the curricula there.
A Jewish educational centre opened in a gala in Baku’s Hatai District on
October 4, 2010. The decisive role in its construction belonged to the Heidar
Aliev Foundation.
Several schools teach the fundamentals of the Ukrainian, Tatar, Lezgian
and other languages. The Baku Slavic University, one of the best-respected
universities in Azerbaijan, is known for Slav language studies and linguistic
research, while the Baku State University has a faculty of Modern Hebrew.
The Samed Vurgun State Russian-Language Theatre successfully works in
Baku and frequently hosts guest performances by stage companies from Russia
and other CIS countries. The Lezgian- and Georgian-language state theatres
also thrive. There are press outlets and cultural and educational centres
working in many languages spoken in Azerbaijan.
Further harmonization of interethnic relations and prevention of
encroachments on ethnic minorities’ rights are an essential part of Azerbaijani
government policies.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is the principal government agency
responsible for the implementation of programmes and policy of the promotion of
intercultural dialogue at the national and local levels. It closely cooperates with
the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport, the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the State Committee for Work with
Religious Organizations, the State Committee for Family, Women and Children
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